Gold Coast overcome Warriors 28-20 in NZ - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Gold Coast overcome Warriors 28-20 in NZ

01/08/2010 04:50:46 PM Comments (0)

Gold Coast coach John Cartwright has praised his players' spirit after the Titans secured a come-from-behind victory over the Warriors on Sunday.

The 28-20 win at a damp Mt Smart Stadium came after the Titans trailed 12-0 early in the match but two tries each from Steve Michaels and Mat Rogers has kept the Gold Coast's quest for an NRL top four finish on track.

"We didn't get the start that we wanted but the pleasing thing was that it didn't change the players' approach to the game or the approach we wanted to take into the game," Cartwright said.

"They had a pretty simple plan that they never wavered from, they didn't play the scoreboard, they just did what we did at training.

"We work very hard for each other.

"When sides have good kick chase and their completions are high, that's when you need guys like Scott Prince and Mat Rogers, they're there to win the games.

"It was a game of chess there for a while today and our key players got us over the line."

For the Warriors, looking so hot during a recent five-match winning run, things have turned decidedly chilly with two straight losses putting them back into the pack of teams fighting it out to take part in finals footy.

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary isn't reaching for any panic buttons just yet but he says the team do need to return to their consistent ways.

"It's very tight in the competition race but there were periods during the games we were winning where we weren't giving opportunities to the opposition that we've probably given over the last couple of weeks," Cleary said.

"We're showing good signs through the games but haven't delivered the full package for 80 minutes.

"I understand where we are but there were a lot of good things about today as well, it's a matter of getting that back and pushing on for next week.

"Whilst this is disappointing, it's certainly not the end of the world."

James Maloney and Lance Hohaia both crossed early for the Warriors as the Titans struggled to cope with a wet ball.

But midway through the first half, the revival began as the Titans hit back through Michaels touching down a Prince grubber.

Seven minutes before the break Michaels bagged his second try, picking up a loose ball after it ricocheted off the hands of Rogers who was jumping to claim a high ball.

There were claims the dual international had knocked the ball forward but video evidence was inconclusive.

The Warriors' go-to man, Manu Vatuvei, put the his team back in front three minutes into the second half, leaping above two Titans to catch and touch down a Brett Seymour kick.

Rogers brought the Titans level again, beating three players after being put in a hole by a pass from Prince, while the No.7's conversion took them in front for the first time.

William Zillman scooped up a poor kick from Lewis Brown on the Titans' 10m line and raced the length of the field to score his side's next try before Rogers sealed the win his second score eight minutes from time, Seymour adding a late consolation for the Warriors.

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